Hydrogen and carbon monoxide enriched gas production

Process for the preparation of hydrogen of carbon monoxide rich gas by steam reforming of a hydrocarbon feedstock in presence of a steam reforming catalyst supported as thin film on a tubular reactor, comprising steps of (a) optionally passing a process gas of prereformed hydrocarbon feedstock through a first tubular reactor with a thin film of steam reforming catalyst supported on walls of the reactor in heat conducting relationship with hot flue gas from a subsequent second tubular steam reforming reactor; (b) passing effluent from the first tubular reactor to the subsequent second tubular reactor being provided with a thin film of the steam reforming catalyst and being heated by burning of fuel, thereby obtaining a partially steam reformed gas effluent and the hot flue gas; (c) passing the effluent from the second reactor to a fixed bed steam reforming catalyst; and (d) withdrawing from the fixed bed a product gas of the hydrogen and carbon monoxide rich gas.